Buckle



Dec. 22l 1925. 1,566,971

E. l. ROGERS y BUCKLE Filed Sept. 3, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 if W 4 l l i Pfff Dec. 22,1925. A'1,566,971

E. L ROGERS BUCKLE Filed Sept. 5 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 22, 1925.

1,566,971 PATENT oericr VIEVLELBLEITT I. ROGERS, 0F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

BUCKLE.

Application filed September 3, 1925. Serial No. 54,246.

To all whom t 'may concern:

Be it known that I, Evnnn'r'r I. ROGERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Orchard Ave., Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island,

.have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles, of which the follow ing is a specification.

My invention relates to buckles, particularly Vof the type having a sliding frame, slidable in guideways on a main frame, having a clamping position adapted to clamp a belt end against a portion of the main frame.

I am aware that buckles of this general typehave heretofore been constructed. The main object of my invention is to provide a buckle of this general type, the two parts of which can be readily cut and stamped out of Hat metal stock in a machine press with a minimum number of operations.

A further object of my invention is to provide a buckle of this type employing a minimum amount of metal, and hence on the wearera very small amount of room. Due

' to thevspecific structure of the cooperating guideways, the buckle itself is very thin, and as the sliding frame functions entirely in rear of and on the guideways, it is completely hidden from view by themain frame and the locked belt end. Dueto the specific construction of my guideways, the clamping portions of said frames are able to function in parallel planes very close together, thus permittino the belt to lock on a straight pull though without distorting the position ofthe buckle on the wearers waist.

A further object of my invent-ion is to provide in a buckle of a type having a sliding frame, slidable in rear of and on guideways mounted on a main frame, means to limit the sliding movement of the sliding frame in both directions.

These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of one embodiment thereof such as is shown in the accompanying drawings.

f In the drawings, Fig. l is a front elevation of my buckle with belt attached in operative position on the wearers waist.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional vien7 taken along the line 22 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view .similar te Fig. ,2 showingr the belt end in the process of .beine inserted, and before a straight pull on the belt end has operated to bring the clamping portions of said frames into clamped position.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, the belt end not being shown.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the buckle.

Fig. 6 is a rea-r dissembled perspective view of the main frame and sliding frame of my invention, before the sliding frame has been inserted in the guideways of the main frame, and before the stop lugs which limit the rearward movement of the sliding frame have been bent down to block the rear ends of the main frame guideways.

Fig. 7 is a rear perspective view of a modified' form of the main frame of my invention illustrating how the sidebars may be rectangular rather than tapered as shown in my preferred embodiment.`

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout, 20 generally indicates my invention. As stated, my invention comprises the two cooperating members which may be readily stamped from sheet metal stock with a minimum number of pressing and stamping operations. These members comprise the main frame 22 and the sliding frame 24 slidable thereon. The main frame 22 is preferably hollow and comprises the end bars 26 and 28 and side bars 30 preferably iutegrally joined together. The rear end bar 28 forms the belt attaching bar, and the stationary belt end 32 may be looped around said belt attaching bar 28 and secured thereto in any suitable fashion. I employ the word rear to signify the direction of the fixed belt end 32 and the word front the opposite direction. I employ the words inner and outer7 relative to the center of the buckle and the words, forward77 and backward, relative to the facel and pack of the buckle. In my preferred embodiment, I have shown the looped end 32 of the belt secured to the main portion thereof by the snap button 33. The belt is passed around the wearers waist, and the free end 34 thereof is adapted to be iuserted through the buckle 20 and lirnlly clamped around the wearers waist by said buckle in a manner to be described. To mount the sliding frame 24C on the main frame 22 to permit relative sliding 1novement of said members, I provide the guideways 3,6 on said. main, frame, To permit Abackwardly from the inner edges 38 of said have to be for proper sliding movement of the sliding member 24. The guideways 36 comprise the side flanges 4() projecting side bars and Vthe integral lips 42 bent outwardly from saidside flanges 40 offset from said side bars 30 and parallel thereto.

The relatively sliding frame 24 preferably kcomprises the side bars 44 and the clam'pingcross bar 46 integrally joined together. The sliding frame 24 may also be provided with the integral front tension bar 48. In my preferred embodiment7 I preferably forwardly incline the front edge of clamping cross bar to form the clamping surface toV clamp the free belt end 34 against the inner edge of the front end bar 26 of the main frame 22 on the outward movement of said sliding frame 24 as the belt end 84 is pulled outward in use on the weareis body. To secure the sliding frame 24 to the main frame 22 in such manner as to prevent lateral movement of said frames and to permit longitudinal movementtliereof, I preferably providethe outer edges 52 of said sliding frame side bars 44 with cooperating slideways 54 adapted to cooperate with the slideways 86 ou the main frame Said slideways 54 are preferably constructed as follows they flanges 56 project integrally forwardly from the outer edges 52 of the side bars 44 of the sliding frame 24 and are provided at their front ends with the inwardly projecting lips 58 parallel to said side bars 44 and offset therefrom. Said inwardly projecting lips 58 are adapted to register in the guideways 86 of the main frame 22. It is thus obvious that said frames 22 and 24 are secured together against lateral movement but that relative longitudinal movement of the sliding frame 24 on the main frame 22 is permitted, the lips 58 registeringin the guideways 36.

'As stated, I also provide means ou said frames to 'limit the sliding movement of said sliding frame 24 in both directions. In my preferred embodiment? I construct said means as follows. I preferably construct the front end bar 26 of the main frame 22 with a stop lip 60 projecting integrally backwardly therefrom. It is obvious that this stop lip 60 will abut the front edge 62 of the sliding frame 24 to limit its outward movement. To permit insertion of the lips 58 of the sliding` frame withinthe guidewaysV 36 of the main frame and after insertion thereof `to provide means to limit the `inward movement ofsaijd sliding frame 247 I preferframe.

ably construct the rear ends of said oifset slideway lips 42 of the main frame with the rearwardly projecting lugs 63. It is obvious that after the lips 58 of the sliding frame are inserted in the guideways 36 of the main frame 22, that said lugs 63 may be bent downwards to block the rear ends of said kmain frame slideways 36 to limit the inward movement of said sliding frame 24. Due to the method of constructing the guideways 86 on the inner edges'38 of the side bars 30 of the main frame, it is obvious that the side bars may be constructed of varying thickness and shape as shown in my preferred embodiment and still permit the guideways 36 to be parallel for proper sliding of the sliding frame 24 therein. Fig. 'i' illustrates an embodiment of my invention wherein the outer edges 64 of the side bars 30 are also parallel aswell as the'inner edges 38, illustrating how the main frame of my invention may be made in any number of shapes without departing from the. spirit of myv invention.

After the buckle is assembled,v and the fixed belt end 82 securely'attached to the belt attaching rear end bar 287 and the free end 34 of the belt loopedaround the weare-rs body, it is inserted as shown-in 3 from underneath the sliding member 24 in the space 66 formed between the front bar 48 of the sliding` member and the clamping bar V46 thereof, the sliding member 24 having been retracted toits iniuost position on the slideways 36. After the free end 34- has been pulled through the space 66 to adjust the belt to the desired degree of tightness around the wearers body, it is obvious that a straight pull on the belt will cause outward n'iovement of the front tension end bar 48 of the sliding frame, thereby causing the clamping` portion 5() of the sliding frame 24 to clamp the free belt end 34 against the inner edge 68 of the front bar 26 of the main frame, thus securely bindingl the free end of the belt around the wearers body.

It is obvious that I have provided a buckle which will firmly lock a belt around the wearers waist on a straight pull on the belt. and which will lock tighter as the ypressure on the belt is increased. It isbalso obvious that, due to therconstruction of the guideuiys, the sliding frame is completely hidden and that it slides in rear of the main It is also obvious that 'I have provided a construction which will accommodate itself to different thicknesses of belts. I have also provided a buckle of this type thinner and-made out of a smaller amount of stock than any hitherto provided and in which the parts thereof function in parallel planes close together. that I have provided means to limit the sliding of movement of the sliding member in both directions.

It is also obvious Cil It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A buckle, comprising Va hollow main frame having end bars and side hars integrally joined together, the rear end bar forming a belt attaching bar and the inner edges of said side bars having slideways formed by flanges projecting backwardly and then outwardly to form lips parallel to said side bars and offset therefrom, and a sliding frame comprising side bars, an end har at the front end thereof and a central clamping cross bar vintegrally joined together, the front edge of said cross bar being forwardly inclined to form a clamping surface to clamp a belt end against the inner edge of the front end bar of the main frame on outward movement on said sliding frame, the outer edges of said side bars having cooperating slideways formed by flanges projecting forwardly and then inwardlyto form lips parallel to said side bars and offset therefrom, said inwardly projecting lips registering in the guideways of said main frame to secure said frames against lateral movement and to permit longitudinal movement of said sliding frame in rear of and on said guideways, and means on said frames to limit the sliding movement of said sliding frame in both directions, comprising a stop lip projecting integrally backwardly from the front end bar of the main frame adapted to abut the front edge of said sliding frame to limit its outward movement and stop lugs projecting from the rear end of said main frame slideways to limit the inward movement of said sliding frame.

2. A buckle, comprising a main frame having end bars and side bars integrally joined together, the rear end bar forming a belt attaching bar and the inner edges of said side barsvhaving slideways formed by flanges projecting backwardly and then outwardly to form lips parallel to said side bars and offset therefrom, and a sliding frame comprising side bars, an end bar at the front end thereof, and a central clalnping cross bar to clamp a belt end against the inner edge of the front end bar of the main frame on outward movement of said sliding frame integrally joined together, the outer edges of said side bars having cooperating slideways formed by flanges projecting forwardly and then inwardly to form lips parallel to said side bars and oflset therefrom, said inwardly projecting lips registering in the guide ways of said main frame to secure said frames against lateral movement and to permit longitudinal movement of said sliding frame in rear of and on said guideways and means on said frames to limit the sliding movement of said sliding frames in both directions, comprising a stop lip projecting integrally backwardly from the front end bar of the main frame adapted t-o abut the front edge of said sliding frame to limit its outward movement and stop lugs projecting from the rear ends of said offset slideway lips of the main frame to block the rear ends of Said main frame slidcways to limit the inward movement of' said sliding frame.

3. A buckle, comprising a hollow main frame having end bars and side bars integrally joined together, the rear end bar forming a belt attaching bar and the inner edges of said side bars having slideways formed by flanges projecting backwardly and then outwardly to form lips parallel to said side bars and offset therefrom, and a sliding frame comprising side bars and a clamping cross bar forwardly inclined to form a clamping surface to clamp a belt end against the inner edge of the front end bar of the main frame on outward movement of said sliding frame, the outer edges of said side hars having cooperating slideways formed by flanges projecting forwardly and then inwardly to form lips parallel to said side bars and offset therefrom, said inwardly projecting lips registering in the guideways of said main frame to secure said frames against lateral movement and to permit longitudinal movement of said sliding frame in rear of and on said gnideways, and means on said frames to limit the sliding movement of said sliding frame in both directions, comprising a stop lip projecting integrally backwardly from the front end bar of the main frame adapted to abut the front edge of said sliding frame to limit its outward movement and stop lugs projecting downward from the rear ends of said offset slideway lips of the main frame to block the rear ends of said main frame slideways to limit the inward movement of said sliding frame.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EVERETT I. ROGERS. 

